Christensen grew up on a cattle farm at Katamatite, north of Shepparton. She labored in accounts at varied firms and lived in Brisbane for some years, shifting again to Melbourne after husband George Christensen died within the Sixties.
Anderson mentioned a favorite pet of Christensen’s was Hundi, a blue heeler-corgi cross, a Misplaced Canine’ Dwelling rescue canine. “He used to accompany her wherever she went,” Anderson mentioned.
Pleasure Christensen later in life together with her beloved canine Hundi.
“Later in her life, there was a smaller canine, a dachshund-terrier cross referred to as Holly, who she adopted from the house at Christmas, and she or he selected a festive title.”
In 2012 Christensen wrote within the house’s e-newsletter about Tobi, a bichon frise-maltese cross she adopted, who had lately died. “I’m discovering it onerous to come back to phrases with the loss,” Christensen mentioned.
“I’m enclosing a small donation – I hope it helps along with your great work.”
Pleasure Christensen’s Brighton house that was bought earlier this yr.
Christensen additionally, at completely different instances, owned three cockatiels, all referred to as Cookie, a budgie referred to as Louie, a rabbit and cared for native animals.
In 2015, Christensen wrote a letter to the house to say she would come with it in her will. “I need the Dwelling to have the ability to proceed the great and devoted work they’re doing to assist all misplaced harmless animals,” she wrote.
“It’s essential for me to know that each one the misplaced animals are properly cared for and given a second likelihood in a cheerful house.”
Ross Anderson mentioned many of the $3.6 million bequest will go to constructing a brand new veterinary clinic and animal adoption centre at The Misplaced Canine’ Dwelling’s Cranbourne website in Melbourne’s south-east.
Its animal lodging can even be improved.
The positioning at the moment includes a farmhouse that got here with the property, rudimentary adoption amenities and outbuildings.
Greater than 3000 canine and between 5000 and 6000 cats and kittens arrive on the Cranbourne website annually.
“1000’s extra animals sooner or later will have the ability to re-homed and cared for, because of Pleasure’s present,” Anderson mentioned.
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The Misplaced Canine’ Dwelling, whose headquarters is in North Melbourne, will get no ongoing authorities funding.
On common, it receives $5 million per yr from deceased estates – about one quarter of its revenue.
One other quarter comes from donations from dwelling folks.
The opposite half of its revenue is derived from council contracts to take care of stray animals and from pet adoptions and the house’s veterinary clinic.
The Misplaced Canine’ Dwelling’s earlier report bequest was $3 million, introduced in 2011, from the late businessman Frank Samways, which funded a brand new North Melbourne veterinary clinic in his title.
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